From the moment I welcomed Darnell Nurse onto my show on Monday he impressed me. He was very polite, poised, well-spoken and comfortable. I really enjoy interviewing people for the first time, because it is the unknown and I never know how the interview will go, but right away I sensed Nurse would be a great guest.

He might have even exceeded my initial expectations as the interview went by very quickly and easily. He gave some great answers, but moreso I felt he let the listeners get a sense of who he was. After the interview I spoke with a few NHL people who interviewed him at the combine, and they were very impressed with his maturity, calm demeanor and his focus when they interviewed him.When I introdued Nurse onto the show he responded with a heartfelt, "Thank you Jason," and I immediately knew he was going to give a good interview, rather than just go through the motions.It was refreshing.

After reading his answers I suspect you'd be happy if your team drafted him early in the first round.

Jason Gregor: Can you give our listeners an idea how a young, top prospect prepares for the combine?

Darnell Nurse: I think it’s a lot of work, obviously going to the gym five, six times a week. We have a great program here in Hamilton; I’m working out about 10 minutes from my house. I’m at the gym for two or three hours whether it’s running or lifting weights. Obviously I can’t do much of upper body, (hand injury) but putting on some weight vests and strapping some things onto my wrist I was able to get in some really good work days. I think that in order to be successful you have to be able to put the work in on a weekly basis, and on a daily basis and just give everything you have.

JG: It is now 27 days until the draft. I’m assuming that you’re very much looking forward to that day but also saying ‘I want it to come now, I want to know where I’m going.’ Talk about the suspense, the build-up and how fun it’s been, but at the same time how you try to avoid it from dominating your every waking thought.

DN: I think you said it probably the best, it is fun. I think for me I’m just trying to enjoy everything that comes with the event. But with that said, there’s still a lot to be done because when that draft day arrives that means I’m going to be in a position where I’m going to have to go to camp and do the best I can to make the team. So for me, I’m preparing myself for the next few years.

I’m just going to enjoy this with my family. I think that that day is more something that all of us can enjoy as a whole, just based on the amount of support that they have given me.

JG: Last season you had one goal and 10 assists in 53 games. This year you had 12 goals, 41 points, a huge offensive improvement. What allowed you to become much more comfortable in your second season and to have such a breakout year offensively?

DN: I think for everyone confidence is a really big thing and having that year under my belt, knowing my limitations as a player as well as where I can expand, a summer of long hard work and working on my hands and reading situations a lot better I think helped. That was big and going over video and obviously knowing when to jump in and when to stay back, offensive awareness really helped me to pick up my numbers.

GOOD BLOODLINES

JG: You come from a long line of athletic family members. Your father Richard was a receiver for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Donovan Mcnabb is your uncle. Did you ever get to play football or was your father like ‘sorry son it’s all hockey and no football for you’?

DN: It was all hockey. He wouldn’t give me the pleasure of playing football. I think that that was one of the biggest things as a kid; you always want to end up following in your father’s footsteps. My dad said ‘stay away from it.’I think that he’s 48 years old and still feeling hits that he took when he was 20. That’s something that I will probably appreciate a lot more now that I’m in the position that I am. At the time it was always a little frustrating for me, but he was always looking out for my best interest. I thank him every day for that.

JG: Did your dad play hockey at any level growing up?

DN: He did as a kid play a lot of minor hockey and then basically he ended up having to pick between hockey and football and he chose football.

JG: How is it having a father who was a professional athlete?

DN: That’s one of the great things; he’s been through all of this before. Whether it’s the meetings or when I’m working out for teams, he’s the perfect person to go to. With having that source to go to I’m usually prepared for every situation just based on the fact that I hear stories that he went through or he’s giving me advice every waking minute. I think that that’s the best thing about having a father who plays professional sports.

JG: Your uncle is a pretty famous quarterback; Donovan Mcnabb. From what I understand, you’ve had the opportunity to work out with him in the summer. What’s the best advice Mcnabb has given you?

DN: He’s always told me to, ‘stay grounded, ‘go to work every day,’ but what he really showed me through working out with him was it never stops. He had played 10 years the first time that I went to work out with him. He’s already established, he doesn’t need to work out in the gym for three hours a day, he could take some days off but that was never his mindset. He was always trying to get better. And for me what I took away from that is that it’s hard to get there, but it’s harder to stay. You saw that with his 13th year when he lost his job as a pro quarterback. I think for me that that’s something that I look towards my future and I see the amount of work that I’m going to have to do. For me, I’m prepared for it.

JG: You mentioned how going to the gym is fun for you. A lot of guys don’t like it. What do you like about the gym so much?

DN: I find it an escape from everything else, whether it’s school or being at the rink for five hours. I love playing hockey, and I love working out, I just love the results that it puts out. For me the strength and the passion that I feel when I walk out at the end of the week is second to none. And then having the amount of work I do off the ice translate onto the ice is another benefit. For me it’s something that’s so enjoyable that I love seeing the progress from year to year.

QUESTION PERIOD

JG: I know that you didn’t go through any of the workouts at the combine, but you still had to go through the interviews. How many interviews did you do over the weekend?

DN: 22 in total.

JG: Did any questions catch you off guard?

DN: None really caught me off guard. My dad and my uncle helped because they sat me down and grilled me, and probably gave me all of the questions that were there. There was one where I had to pick what my favourite animal was. I think that that was probably the one that was most out of the park.

JG: What did you pick, and then did they ask you to explain why it was your favourite?

DN: They didn’t ask me why, but I picked the lion.

JG: King of the jungle.

DN: Exactly, that’s it. It doesn’t get any better than that.

JG: Was Lion King one of your favourite movies to watch as a kid?

DN: Loved it. I still call my dad Simba because I’m pretty sure that’s how I was raised.

JG: How did you approach that question period with the NHL teams? Was it nerve-wracking?

DN: I think that you just have to be genuine. That’s the biggest thing. Obviously you’re in this position for a reason, and you can’t change who you are or give people answers that you think that they want to hear. For me, that was the biggest thing; just go in there and show them who I am as a person. By doing that it made the interview process a lot easier. With that being said, after 22 meetings there is a point where you get sick of talking about yourself for sure.

JG: How long is each interview?

DN: They are about 20 minutes.

JG: Are you just going from one team to the next, or are there breaks involved?

DN: There were breaks, opportunities to go and eat. For the most part you had a block where you had to do a few interviews and then you had time off.

JG: A lot of people are comparing Darnell Nurse and Seth Jones. Do you see similarities in your games, and what do you like about Jones’ game?

DN: I think that there are definitely similarities, but that we are two different players, completely different players. His biggest strengths probably come more in the offensive zone and mine in the defensive zone and I’m just trying to develop the all-around game.

Probably the best part of his game is his ability to get open in the offensive zone and create offence. So for me, to see guys like that, you try to take away things from their game and add it to mine.

JG: Which forward in the Ontario Hockey League did you look forward to playing this year, and who was the biggest challenge?

DN: I think either Mark Scheifele or Vincent Trocheck. We played against Trocheck six or seven times this year after he got traded. I think that he was probably the player I look forward to playing the most because I knew that I was going to be out there with him every shift and that if I did my job that my team would come out on top.

JG: You have a healthy mean streak to your game, at least according to a lot of the scouting reports. Does that mean streak come naturally, or are you more of a highly competitive guy than necessarily a mean player. How would you define it?

DN: I think that it’s a combination of both. I’ve always had that side to me where I’m not afraid of anyone. Just based on the fact that I truly believe that that’s the way that you have to be to survive any professional sport. I’ll never back down and if someone is challenging my teammates, I’m always there for them.

With that said, I’m very competitive and I hate to lose battles and I think that fuels the fire for me. Especially in my own zone and being someone who’s hard to play against.

JG: What do you do in your spare time Darnell?

DN: I love music, whether it is hip hop or rock, I love listening to music. I play the guitar a little bit; I’m trying to pick it up again, as it was something I did a little more when I was younger. That is my main passion and other than that, just hanging out with friends. I think that you have to enjoy the free time that you have in the off-season and for me it’s a good opportunity to hang out with family and friends.

WRAP UP

Nurse stands 6'5' and is already close to 200 pounds. By the time he fills out he'll likely play at 215 to 220 pounds. He is big, aggressive and an exceptional athlete. He has good hockey sense, and it is clear he won't take any shortcuts to reach his goal of playing in the NHL.

In a few years I won't be surprised if he becomes one of the best players from the 2013 NHL draft class. Some teams will shy away from taking a D-man early in the draft, but if he is available at #7, the Oilers will have to take a long, hard look at him.

I believe the Oilers biggest organizational weakness is the lack of a top-pairing defender. I don't expect Nurse to be that guy for a few years, but if the Oilers plan on being a legitimate contender down the road they need to draft and develop a top-pairing defender. Nurse could be that guy.

PRANCERCISE UPDATE...

We are looking for the best mock/funny video of Prancercise. The best video will now win a total of $1,100 in gift certificates from The Pint, Rona, United Cycle, Palisades DQ and vivo ristorante.

You have five more days to come up with your best mock video. Keep in mind there are 4 types of Prancercise in this video, so you'll need to show you are well-versed in all of them.

You can submit your entries to gregor@theteam1260.com.The deadline to enter is next Monday, June 10th at 2 p.m.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

It's going to be difficult to get out of the mentality of who can help the team now. I am very much looking forward to a time when we are less concerned with who we are picking this year, and more excited about who'd finally ready to make the jump and make an impact from being drafted a few years ago.

As it stands, this seems like the position we are in with some of our defensive prospects.

Personally, I'm still hoping Nichushkin falls to seven, and he gets put on a line with Yak, and we end up getting Antripov on the cheap as a UFA. Just saying, an all Canadian, then all Russian one two punch would be fun to watch. Which line do you shut down?

I was also unaware that compliance buy out players do not become free agents, able to pick and choose where they go, but instead are bid on, and are awarded to the highest bidder. Is that true? and if so, that's great!

I'll be fine if the take Nurse. I have a feeling that the Oilers have a sense the need to build a bit from the back out. The Oilers could have a real nice defence in a few years ala Canucks with many 2-3, maybe not quite that top eschelon figure. Hope Nurse would get a another year in Jr and develop his offensive game a bit more. One more year in the OHL and a year in the AHL would be ideal for growth. Unfortunately the time is now and if any of Nich, SM, Lindholm are available at 7 I think you gotta take because they will be able to step in, and I am not convinced Nurse is that dominant guy. I sure wish the Oilers had another 1st rounder, so many good players, reminds me of 2003.

I am one who believes that the Oil have to first get their top 2 lines completed as also the bottom six. If the Oilers can trade Hemsky and/or Gagner at the draft, in a package to move upto at least 4th...from 7th...the Oilers have to get Barkov or Nichushkin, pending their interviews and attitudes for hard work ethics.

After that...it should be one of Monahan, Lindholm...and/or Drouin if he was to somehow slide down to 7th (only because of his size)

Nichushkin and Yakupov on a 2nd line, or Barkov/Monahan/Lindholm on a 2nd line with Yak, or... even Drouin with Yak on a 2nd line is outstanding potential for the near and long term future.

The Oilers have J. Schultz, Klefbom, Marancin, Gernat, Musil, and even Davidson for being of top 4 to top 6 defencemen upcoming.

That being said, Nurse or Ristolainen would be my pick at #7, easily if the Oil need that future top 2 defenceman.

So now it comes down to a future top 2nd line centre or that top defence prospect. But as many have said, defence will be at least two to four more yrs away with this draft yrand with no excellent guarantees either.

I dont think the oilers should trade down they should stay at 7 and wat ever falls in ur lap be happy. Nich, monahan, or Nurse. Nurse said it himself that he knows he has to go back to jr for one more year. this Guy understands what he needs to do! Oilers Better not reach thats all i have to say.

I've been pissed since we won those last two games of the season and moved from a top 4 pick (Barkov / Nickushkyn) to the 7th place pick. Then we catch a break and Nickushkyn says he's definitely coming to the NHL next year, and now Nurse is moving up the charts.....more good luck.....

So lets take advantage of our good fortune and MAKE THE PICK ..don't trade down or trade away!!!!

If things go the way we all hope they will next season, this may be our last chance for along time to draft an elite level talent!

I like this kid more than Seth Jones. What good is a tall lanky d'man without a mean streak in todays game. I think he'll even match Jones offense wise as well. If this kid was a few months younger, he would've been next seasons Seth Jones.

If the Oiler are unwilling to move up a get that all important 2nd line center, Darnell would make a fine addition to the lineup here in a couple yrs. 2 more yrs of suckage (non playoff yrs), coming to an arena near us.

the Oilers are still in a good position at #7 to get one of either Monahan, Nurse, Ristolainen or Lindholm, i am OK with any of these guys.

They are guaranteed one of those guys being available. Unless Barkov and one of the big 3 slip, in which case you would take whichever one it was instead.

My guess:

1) Jones - COL. Local boy learned to skate with help from Joe Sakic. Probably competes with Barkov to be the 3rd/4th best player in the draft, IMO.

2) MacKinnon - FLA. Easy choice. BPA

3) Drouin - TB. Easy choice. BPA

4) Barkov - NSH. Easy choice. BPA

5) Nichushkin - CAR. Not so easy choice, but is easily the BPA

6) Monahan - CAL Feaster was saved by Colorado from making one of the biggest blunders in sports history by signing a similar type of player (O'Reilly) to an offer sheet. They are picking Monahan all day if the Barkov isn't available.

7) Oilers have an extremely tough decision. If they keep it I hope they take Lindholm. They must overlook his size but by all accounts he could turn out to be a great 2C behind Nuge.

I would hope the Oilers offer Buffalo #7 OV, #37 OV and ANA's 2nd round pick for #8 OV and #16 OV. This would be reliant on the Oilers not being high on Lindholm or Nurse and Buffalo being really high on a certain player. Oilers then take 1 out of Nurse, Ristolainen, Zadorov, or Pulock and 1 of Lindholm, Shinkaruk, Horvat, Domi, Lazar, Mantha, or Wennberg. Dreaming, I know.

7th overall and a second for Boone Jenner and Columbus's 14th overall. I'd really lean to this deal if Monahan is gone. Then at 14 we may have a chance at ristolainen, zykov, horvat, or reach a bit for gauthier.

Taking a kid at seven well let's hope they leave him a year to long in the minors developing.Rather then bringing him up a year too early and stalling.

The team is at least three years from being a force in the playoffs.Let this years kid develop.Much too often the Oilers have brought a kid up too early before they were ready.Trying to address a need at the NHL level.

I like Nurse, but I believe the kids are too good for another wasted year. I'm of the group that believes we should be comitted to winning now.

Marincin and Klefbom are pretty close to making the big roster, with Belov coming in next year. THIS TEAM DOES NOT NEED TO GET ANY YOUNGER! It's not much of a stretch to think that we could bring in a great defenseman with the 7th overall pick.

I like Nurse, but I believe the kids are too good for another wasted year. I'm of the group that believes we should be comitted to winning now.

Marincin and Klefbom are pretty close to making the big roster, with Belov coming in next year. THIS TEAM DOES NOT NEED TO GET ANY YOUNGER! It's not much of a stretch to think that we could bring in a great defenseman with the 7th overall pick.

Younger/better, same thing. There's no denying these kids will probably be better than half the deadwood on this roster. It doesn't take a jeanyous to figure out Klefbom, or Marincin will be better than Potter,Peckham or Nick Schultz from day one of training camp.

It doesn't matter how experienced these so called, go to veterans are, if these kids are going to be better than them from day 1! A better player is a better player no matter how old they are.

And if we can package Hemksy with either draft picks, pr prospects, get an additional first round pick, or role players. This is draft is full of potential. Here's hoping MacT can give us hope for playoffs this summer.

Interesting influences.Pro work ethics no doubt,focus on style and technique,both influences playing a smaller mans position and under pressure constantly developing a specific mindset and focus.Interesting.Both learning to strike back in a retaliatory way with offenseive thrust,MMMmm maybe this is why Darnell has some nasty,possibly this is his interpretation of the strike back mentality he has learned coming from an offensively catalysed perspective.

Compare him more to Peckham without as good a shot as Peckham . Should be more defencsively sound in a couple of years . however than Peckham

Nurse is questionable and likely not very good on power play . His offensive game and transition quite a bit lower than someone like Ristolainen and even R.Pulock ." Hands of stone " offensively unless he develops a shot somewhere down the line ?

Don't figure he fits the transitional mobile defence we seem to be wanting . Physically yes , but don't expect him to be anything near a Pronger or top power play defenceman in any other aspect offensively .I don't expect we will draft him at nbr.7 if Ristolainen available .

7th overall and a second for Boone Jenner and Columbus's 14th overall. I'd really lean to this deal if Monahan is gone. Then at 14 we may have a chance at ristolainen, zykov, horvat, or reach a bit for gauthier.

If not I'm good with drafting nurse.

I doubt CBJ gives up Jenner to move up 7 spots and grab a 2nd...They are high on him and like how he plays. If you look at past history of moving down, rarely does the team that moves down 5-7 spots get a player with as much potential as Jenner.

Of course I think Oilers would make that move, but I'd be surprised if CBJ would.

The draft contest this year will be the best we've had in years.Name the the top 10 in order.Winner gets? The odds of getting this years top ten in a row are similar to winning Powerball. There are so many ways to go for each team that it will be hard to guess what each team will do until the team before them picks.This is one of those drafts that you could get a top 6 player in the first 50 picks or so.There are that many talented players available.The draft is on Sunday in NJ? Good land will any one show up other than the pickpockets and crack dealers? A Sunday? Wow is that dumb.

Flames signed Kari Ramo -goalie from KHL .I wonder if we might have been after him as well ? Calgary will likely take Lindhom unless they trade down . If Oilers want Nurse then I'd say Calgary will trade with us as long as Lindhom or Ristolainen available .At what cost ? Calgary might even try to get our seventh for their 25 and 28th pick , I believe , with a third and /or 4th round pick .

I'd prefer they deal with Buffalo and swap picks and get their 8th and 16th pick with what else we could offer . I'm not a fan of Nurse with limited offensive upside and poor shot - not at nbr.7 anyways . He had only 10 points the year before , and not an overwhelming 41 this season at junior level ,unlike Lindhom and Ristolainen at men level for 2 seasons already .

To give you an idea how strong this years draft is A.Slepyshev rating went fom 17th overall last year (not drafted as everyone felt he would not come over ) to number 37 , I believe this year . I hope we get him in second round this year .

Question: Do the oilers have an additional 8 mil in cap space because of the way the new cba is written and how elc bonuses no longer count against cap?

I've read this a few different places, would love to get my head around the cap situation and what we can expect...

I hope we keep the #7 pick and somehow get Monahan. Hence initializing the ripple Effect- YR1: Horcoff is bought out, money is spent on a quality goalie. YR2: Monahan develops into a top two guy, Gagner is traded for a young top 4 defenseman.

If the draft goes McKinnon, Jones, Drouin, Barkov, Nichuskin, Monahan - I seriously consider trading the pick for a Vanek type player(huge lw, 35 goal guy) or a Edler type Defenseman(young top 3). If one of those players slide- we hit the jackpot.

I believe Drouin falls to #6 in the draft at least.......only because of his size. This is due to that Col will take either Jones/MacKinnon and vicaverca with Florida. TB with Yzerman are rumoured to be drooling over Nichushkin at #3 (size plus skills). Nashville will likely take Barkov at #4 (again it is size plus skills).

Carolina would love Nurse due to his relations to McNabb, his size, meanness, and his skills plus they need defencemen prospects moreso.

That leaves Calgary and being that city loved Fleury, they would take Drouin in a heartbeat.

If not, Oilers grab him. But....That leaves the best other three of Monahan, Lindholm and Ristolainen. Any of these would be excellent for the Oilers.

The Oilers have Klefbom, Marancin, Fedun, Musil, Davidson, and Dillon Simpson now starting their final junior to AHL learning period. This is why I think Edmonton takes Monahan or Lindholm now at #7

i can see that happening if Carolina wants Ristolainen but Carolina would love Nurse at #5 especially with the marketing about him nhis dad and McNabb and I don't think they want Peckham with his type fitness/work ethics and poor puck skills.

Maybe Gernat and #7 to give the Oil the #5.

Next is that #4 is the crucial spot the Oil have to go for. Barkov is gone by #4. So will be Jones, MacKinnon....and TB is drooling over Nichushkin right now at #3.

I don't know where your getting your information from, but your list is wrong if you read the popular mock draft lists.

Your first 5 are probably right different order probably.

Nurse could go #5 to Carolina

Nichushkin could go anywhere fro 3- 7

Lindolm 6-7

Monahan 5-7 but probably Calgary

Before you tell me I am wrong , I'd like to send you to a site , "it is a must read for all draft watchers " . It's on this site -just go to Jets nation and go there . Go to bottom blog "Thinking with an empty net , Coaching changes , and DRAFT RANKINGS . Read it over and clip on Corey Pronmanns "Work at Hockey Perspectives" . You'll get a vast in depth assessment and rankings of the top 100-125 players from that site alone . He bases his rankings on many things , but adherent to Fenwick /Corsi rankings "possession skills " . I think you'll find this source invaluable in depth and rounding out your opinions .

Pronman says this draft is elite and heavy in depth but doubts any defenceman will turn out to be a NO.! defenceman down the line , even though it is a heavy draft for defenceman . Read it all and get back tto me . It certainly changed my opinion on many including top ten . I'd rank his work far better than those "Mock Drafts " .

Flames signed Kari Ramo -goalie from KHL .I wonder if we might have been after him as well ? Calgary will likely take Lindhom unless they trade down . If Oilers want Nurse then I'd say Calgary will trade with us as long as Lindhom or Ristolainen available .At what cost ? Calgary might even try to get our seventh for their 25 and 28th pick , I believe , with a third and /or 4th round pick .

I'd prefer they deal with Buffalo and swap picks and get their 8th and 16th pick with what else we could offer . I'm not a fan of Nurse with limited offensive upside and poor shot - not at nbr.7 anyways . He had only 10 points the year before , and not an overwhelming 41 this season at junior level ,unlike Lindhom and Ristolainen at men level for 2 seasons already .